Pink Chalk Studio moves full steam ahead with a focus on teaching and new pattern designs.

The Long Version:

March 2006 marked a turning point in my life. I wrote and published my first blog post. A seed. A manifestation of my passion for making things. The blog nurtured my creative side by encouraging me to follow my imagination wherever it led me. I had a lot to say. Both in words and in fabric.

The journey led me to designing and publishing my first sewing pattern. The Note Taker made its debut June 2007. I designed more, published more, pitched it all in every way I could think of and a small business was born. I wasn’t making much money and the spreadsheet tracking my income revealed it most likely would never be a viable long term source of income.

Pink Chalk Fabrics followed. With great enthusiasm I launched the web shop on May 14, 2008. Build it and they will come. Not exactly. The growth of the shop came slowly. I had a vision of what I wanted my business to be. What I wanted it to say about my views on sewing as an expression of self. On the sacredness of this thing we do when we allow ourselves to explore our own unique creative flow. How I could best share my passion for making things.

I wanted everything that was Pink Chalk to reflect and express how gosh darn important this thing we do with a needle and thread is to me!

When I interview people for jobs I attempt to explain my philosophy of why I do this and how I view it in the greater scheme of things. How I believe that our energy, love and passion for our work is packaged up along with the fabric. Transmitted with every image shared and word written. That our customers feel that love when opening a package from Pink Chalk Fabrics. That how we resolve a problem, talk on the phone, write a blog post, share an image, compose an e-mail, greet people coming into the shop, and set our policies all matter. A lot.

It’s about respect. Respect for that sacred safe haven where we create. A place located a step away from the chaos of our lives. A secret hideaway from caretaking for children, partners, parents and friends. A place just for us. A quiet spot where our voice isn’t judged or dismissed or criticized. A happy place that brings us peace and makes us smile.

This Place provides Comfort. Safety. Love. Beauty. It feeds our Soul. Nourishes our Spirit. Reminds us that despite everything going on around us we are OK.

Now, at this point in the interview one of two things happen. The person glazes over and looks at me like I’m a total whack job. Or they light up. They understand exactly what I’m saying. Those are the amazing women I get to work with each day.

OK, so where is all this going? I feel a need to convey what this journey is about for me and hopefully by sharing that it will illuminate more clearly why I’m embarking on this new twist in the adventure.

A new direction! Never before traveled avenues to explore my creativity. To express and share my gifts. Continue to wholeheartedly experience what my passion for sewing says about who I am, what I want and how I can best serve.

I have lots of ideas about where I’ll start. Online classes. Teaching locally and afar. Writing new patterns. Video tutorials. Sew alongs. Pushing the limits of my creative ideas.

I have absolutely no idea where it will lead. And lead it will. I know that from past experience. Sort of the fun part about the whole thing.

Am I scared? Hell yes. This is a HUGE leap of faith. To follow that little voice inside of me that won’t sit quietly and leave me alone. That tells me it’s time for a change. Time to act. Time to think big and do new things. To follow my muse and not be afraid.

I’ve decided to listen. Let Faith and Trust guide me. I just wish it didn’t require me to let go of something so BIG! My EGO is having a field day. Grow more. Bigger is better. Are you crazy? You can’t stop doing this. Who do you think you are?

The gift of making a decision to take this new course is this: I’m excited in a way I haven’t been in a very, very, very long time. It feels right. So in alignment with my purpose for being. I’m at peace.

I move forward with an understanding that it might not work the way I imagine. That I may look back with fear when things get rough. That the path may not be all that I thought I was signing up for. I’m OK with that.

I know deep in my Heart and Soul that honoring my passion will lead me exactly where I’m intended to go whatever that ends up looking like.

Thank you for continuing to share this journey with me. It’s going to be fun!

I haven’t “stopped by” your blog for many months, but I guess today was a good day to stop by!
I’m glad for you to listen to that thing, whatever it is, that guides us when we listen. And I’m (again) inspired by you! May you be pleasantly surprised…

May you steps into the future be the ones you want. Congrats Kathy. Your establishment was the first the I ever ordered online. Such a leap of faith. I haven’t done much ordering by e-mail but anytime I did, I was so pleased with the outcome. Also, had to find wrench fabric (to cover a lampshade for my son, his request) and couldn’t find it. Where did I go, Pink Chalk with my query. One of your staff found some at a another outlet. So sweet and helpful. Thank you for being one of the first blogs/fabric shops I followed on line. You and others have filled a void in my life with the joys of quilting/sewing and fabrics (woohoo!) and I thank you all so very much. Good luck in your new endeavour and dream. Go Girl! Again, thank you for all you’ve done for all of us watchers. (-:

I commend you for following your heart. Best of everything in your new adventure. It will be exciting for everyone to see where it leads you and us. Those of us who can’t take these steps for ourselves can live the experience thur you. best wishes to you.

Good for you! I will miss ordering fabric from you. But, I just learned you make patterns! Wow, a whole website unexplored for my focus on one thing. Good for you, for shifting your focus to your creative best. I look forward to seeing where the path takes you!

Best of luck in your new endeavors Kathy. We know well the importance of listening to that little voice, the same one that told us to start a company 15 yrs ago and a magazine 3 yrs ago. Jeff Bezos refers to it as the Regret Minimization Framework in which you have to do things so you won’t have regrets down the road that you never tried them. Let us know if we can be of service to you in any way.

Sorry you are leaving the on line fabric shop, but lets face it – it is an uphill battle even for the fat quarter shop, hawthorne threads, and many other on line shops to compete, now that Missouri Star has taken a huge chunk of the market share from everyone else.

I look forward to more of your brilliant pattern designs in the future.

I will miss your wonderful shop! But you always seem to know what you are doing. I would love to continue to follow online classes and learn more about your techniques in quilting and sewing. Maybe pattern testing is in my future! Good luck in your endeavers!

Kathy
Selfishly, I am sad for me but sooo happy for you and wish you the best in your new endeavor! I know that I will miss your wonderful fabric selections, current patterns & difficult to find notions and your first class customer service that got them to me! As a sewest and quilter I wait with much excitement to see what you will do next ~ I know it will be great! I wish you great fulfillment w/ your dream with the added wish of contentment and much happiness always!
Penny Holliday
Chino Hills, CA

Hi Kathy,
I have been here watching and sharing and buying from you since the very beginning. It has been so lovely to watch you shine in your business, see the growth, and be one of those very happy customers receiving the packages of love.
I am so very happy for you and wish you the greatest of great adventures in the future. Can’t wait to see what you come up with. Kindest Regards, Melinda, – just one of your very happy customers in Australia.

You go girl! I am only sad that I never got to see your shop in person. I have loved ordering online and your selection had vision and beauty. Following your heart is so important. Life if short–live it fully.

Kathy, I am so happy for you! A friend who owned a local quilt shop did exactly that about 4 years ago. Following your heart is a good thing. We have to do what makes us happy. I wish you all the best in this new adventure. I’ll be anxious to follow you into the future!

HOOORRAAAY for you!! Follow your heart. It’s a good thing. I feel like you are speaking for me as this is something I would love to do. My dream is do this on a small scale at the local level only where there is a huge interest in quilting and creating. I dream to teach and inspire but so far I have not been brave enough to do so.

What a beautiful post, thank you so much for sharing such deep and honest feelings – it is uplifting and encouraging way more than you might think! Your courage to explore and not be seduced by current state and/or success is amazing and humbling – bravo!
I love Pink Chalk and can’t wait what comes next!

Kathy, I’m excited for you with this new journey! Not sure where it will lead, and, yet, I know it will be right for you. Risky, yes. Rewarding, yes. Let me know if I can do anything to help you. And, regardless, I’d love to catch up; I think of us as kindred spirits.

Hi, I haven’t been quilting for long,but your site inspired me. I loved how different it was. I also loved waiting for your fabrics to arrive. It’s too bad you can’t do both. I would have loved to do something like pink chalk. The name is so cute and catchy. I think I would have found it faster if it was higher in the Google listing of online fabric stores. You carried different things I couldn’t get elsewhere. I am in disbelief-i was getting ready to order again for my next project just to find out you are closing. I feel like an idiot being a new quilter telling others how much I loved your fabric and that they should order- had I known you were shutting down I wouldn’t have. Hopefully your endeavor works for you, I know as a business owner myself that sometimes it takes more time and energy but it’s the people who keep you going- Lindsey 🙁

Congratulations! What a wonderful gift to be able to take a risk and follow your passion – I wish you every success on your new adventure.
Thank you for the last 6 years. I have loved looking at your web site….have recommended it to others….and feel a sense of loss that it will no longer be….(for purely selfish reasons). Your site has been an inspiration for this beginner sewer all the way over in Australia.
Warm wishes for the future. 🙂

Good luck with your new direction Kathy and team. Dealing with Pink Chalk both as a pattern designer and a fabric buyer has always been a joy as your shop stands out amongst others in terms of professionalism. I know my patterns are in good hands (and my fabric always arrived so quickly even all the way to Australia….)!

Kathy – I am sad to see that the fabric side of the business is going away, but I do wish you total success it your new adventures. When I first came in contact with your website, and Modern Style, I fell in love with with ‘all of your Style’. I liked the word ‘Sewist’ so much that I have used that word on quilt labels I’ve made, and also business cards I had printed. Some have even asked me
why, and I have to give you credit. Best Wishes in all you do.

I am glad to hear that you are starting a new journey in life, but so sad that you will no longer be offering fabrics. Your store was my absolute favorite place for the most inspiring, exciting, modern prints around. There really is no other place out there like yours! Best of luck in all to come, and if you ever consider going back and selling fabric again, keep me on your mailing list.